Chapter 154: Sofia

Hours later, as night falls, the tension in the cabin still lingers like a heavy fog. The stranger is locked in the storage room, and the guys are taking turns keeping watch, making sure he doesn't try anything stupid. I can hear muffled voices from the other room—Danny and Riley talking in low tones, discussing what to do next. The uncertainty of it all makes my chest tighten, but I try to focus on the here and now. On Ethan.

He’s asleep in my arms, his tiny body curled against mine, his breath soft and steady. I sit on the edge of the bed, rocking him gently, my eyes fixed on the window, on the darkness outside. Every shadow, every flicker of movement makes my heart skip a beat. I hate this feeling—this constant fear, this constant vigilance. I wish I could just relax, just breathe, but it feels impossible.

The door creaks open, and Leo steps inside, his eyes softening as he looks at me. He moves quietly, coming to sit beside me on the bed, his gaze shifting to Ethan. "How’s he doing?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

I smile faintly, looking down at Ethan’s peaceful face. "He’s okay," I say. "He doesn’t know what’s going on. He’s just... happy. Innocent."

Leo nods, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "And we’re going to keep it that way," he says. "We’re not going to let anything happen to him. Or to you."

I look at him, at the sincerity in his eyes, and I feel a lump form in my throat. "I’m scared, Leo," I admit, my voice breaking. "I’m so scared that something’s going to happen. That he’s going to find us, that he’s going to take everything away."

Leo reaches out, his hand resting gently on my knee. "I know," he says. "I’m scared too. But we’re not alone, Sof. We’ve got each other. And we’re not going to let him win. Not this time."

I nod, tears welling in my eyes as I look down at Ethan, at his tiny fingers curled around the edge of his blanket. "I just want him to be safe," I whisper. "I want him to have a life where he doesn’t have to be afraid."

Leo leans closer, his arm wrapping around my shoulders, pulling me against him. "He will," he says, his voice filled with conviction. "We’re going to give him that life. No matter what it takes."

We sit there in silence for a while, the weight of everything pressing down on us. But there’s also a sense of comfort in Leo’s presence, in the warmth of his arm around me, in the steady rise and fall of Ethan’s breathing. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone—that we have each other, that we’re stronger together.

Eventually, the door opens again, and Danny steps inside, his eyes tired but determined. "Hey," he says, his voice low. "Riley’s got watch. I thought I’d come check on you guys."

I give him a small smile, my heart swelling with love for these men who have done so much for me, who have given me everything. "We’re okay," I say. "Just... trying to get through the night."

Danny nods, his gaze softening as he looks at Ethan. He steps closer, reaching out to brush his fingers gently over Ethan’s hair. "We’re going to get through this," he says, his voice filled with determination. "All of us. Together."

Leo shifts, his arm still around me, and he looks at Danny, a silent understanding passing between them. It’s in moments like this that I realize just how much we’ve become a family—how much we’ve come to rely on each other, to trust each other. It’s not just about surviving anymore. It’s about protecting what we’ve built, about fighting for the future we want.

Danny sits down on the bed beside us, his hand resting on my back, and I feel a sense of warmth, of safety, that I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s not perfect—it’s far from perfect. But it’s something. It’s hope. And right now, that’s enough.

"We’re going to be okay," Leo says, his voice soft but steady. "We’re going to get through this, Sof. And when we do, we’re going to make sure you and Ethan have the life you deserve. The life you’ve always wanted."

I nod, my heart swelling with emotion as I look at them, at the love and determination in their eyes. "Thank you," I whisper, my voice breaking. "For everything. For never giving up on us."

Danny smiles, his hand rubbing gentle circles on my back. "We’re never going to give up on you, Sof," he says. "You’re stuck with us. All of us."

And as I sit there, surrounded by the people I love, holding my son close, I feel a flicker of hope—a small, fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, we can get through this. That we can find a way to be safe, to be happy. To be free.